Archive
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Plastics supplier wins for initiative
A Swindon-based supplier of plastics to the building trade has won the Training Initiative of the Year Award at the Builders' Merchants Awards for Excellence 2002. Held at The Savoy Hotel, London, it was the first staging of the Builders' Merchants Awards
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£1m deal for firm to supply vehicles
Lex Commercials of Swindon has just secured a deal from Swindon Borough Council worth more than £1 million. As the main dealer for LDV, a specialist van manufacturer based in Birmingham, Lex Commercials will supply 41 new vehicles to the council. This
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Helping people afflicted by war
A MINE clearance specialist is preparing to enter Iraq on a post-war humanitarian crusade. Mike Wilson, 44, from Wootton Bassett, is heading up a team of experts for the Swindon-office of the Canadian International Demining Corps charity. Their aim is
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Mass demos planned in town and Raf base and town
MARCH 19: THOUSANDS of protesters are expected to mount the biggest peace demonstration yet seen at RAF Fairford on Saturday. Speakers booked to address the rally include writer George Monbiot and comedian Mark Thomas. Also speaking will be American Valerie
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Helping people afflicted by war
A MINE clearance specialist is preparing to enter Iraq on a post-war humanitarian crusade. Mike Wilson, 44, from Wootton Bassett, is heading up a team of experts for the Swindon-office of the Canadian International Demining Corps charity. Their aim is
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Parking problem
ASDA Wal-Mart has set up a disabled parking scheme at the store. Often we can't use these spaces because they are taken by taxi drivers who pop in for a sarnie or van drivers who are too lazy to find another space. And there should be a scheme for drivers
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Stately home's famous gardens get feminine touch
BOWOOD Estate is confident its new head gardener Charlotte Hart will blossom in her new role. Mrs Hart, 28, of Derry Hill, who has worked at Bowood for two years, is one of the youngest ever in charge of the 300-year-old gardens. She takes over from Dougie
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Big cat takes bite of Rover
GARAGE repairmen were gobsmacked when a woman brought her car in to have tiger teeth marks removed. The big cat bit off more than it could chew when it sank its teeth into a couple's car bumper as they drove through Longleat Safari Park. The big cat took
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New probe under way on Silbury Hill shaft
CIVIL engineers have returned to Silbury Hill this week to begin further exploration of the pre-historic mound. It's almost three years since the Gazette was the first to reveal that an historic shaft at the core of the hill had partially collapsed leaving
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Tiddleywink back on map
RESIDENTS of the hamlet of Tiddleywink are toasting their new-found notoriety after council chiefs put their village back on the map. Consisting of just eight houses, Tiddleywink is just yards from Yatton Keynell, but despite being a hamlet for over 100
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Helping people afflicted by war
A MINE clearance specialist is preparing to enter Iraq on a post-war humanitarian crusade. Mike Wilson, 44, from Wootton Bassett, is heading up a team of experts for the Swindon-office of the Canadian International Demining Corps charity. Their aim is
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Mammoth effort at charity shops rewarded with a party
PROSPECT Hospice shops in Swindon have raised more than £500,000 in the last year. It costs £2.3 million per year to run the Wroughton hospice, and 64 per cent has to come from voluntary support. There are seven hospice shops in Swindon, including Old
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You don't get rich in this trade
PLUMBER Mick Hayes says he gets around five calls each week from people convinced they can make a killing by learning the trade but he insists it is just not true. Corgi-registered Mr Hayes, 40, of Abbey Meads, is married with two children and has been
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Helping people afflicted by war
A MINE clearance specialist is preparing to enter Iraq on a post-war humanitarian crusade. Mike Wilson, 44, from Wootton Bassett, is heading up a team of experts for the Swindon-office of the Canadian International Demining Corps charity. Their aim is
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Cotswold ace Byrne goes close to Isis record
Cotswold Angling star Eamon Byrne landed a massive 65lb 8oz of bream to win the Isis AC traditional last-day match on the River Avon at Sutton Benger. Eamon landed a total of 13 bream to 7-1-0 using straight ledger tactics and worm and caster on the hook
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Woman was found hanging in her cell
A RECOVERING drug addict who threatened to kill herself if left alone at Eastwood Park Prison was found hanging by her neck less than 24 hours after being put into a single cell. An inquest heard it was 23-year-old Suzy Renicks' second attempt to end
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Decorator injured in fall leaves hospital
A DECORATOR who was injured following a fall from scaffolding has been discharged from hospital. Albert Masih, 36, was trapped underneath scaffolding after falling 40 feet, after he slipped while painting a house in Quarry Road, Old Town. Members of the
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Fisher's Flops
Highworth boss John Fisher admitted it was time to rebuild for next season after his side were emphatically dumped out of the Wiltshire Senior Cup last night. Fisher's troops slumped to a 4-0 semi-final defeat against Melksham at Nursteed Road to leave
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Playground activities given £2,000 cash boost
A CHEQUE for £2,000 has been presented to Liden Primary School. The money, which was raised by the school's Parent-Teacher Association will be used to provide new table and wall activities in a new quiet area of the playground. New trees will also be
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Found guilty of Motorola theft
A JURY has found a Swindon man guilty of conspiracy to burgle, after a break-in at Motorola by a gang responsible for plundering millions of pounds worth of computer equipment. Masked raiders stole a £20,000 piece of computer kit from Motorola's Euro
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Business is booming in old manor house
A BUSINESS centre in Brinkworth is expanding, creating 14 new office units. Brinkworth House, a nineteenth century manor house, has been converted into a business and events centre. Now an extension is being added to the building and the foundation stone
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A noble art that teaches respect
A BOXING coach who has been teaching young people for 30 years has been honoured with a civic award. Harry Scott, 62, of Cherbury Walk, is the fifth person to receive a Swindon Citizens' Award after being nominated by one of his students. The accolade
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Reunion at last for Holy Rood
FORMER Holy Rood pupils have been invited to the Swindon school's first official reunion. Organised by Anne Baxter (formerly Leckie) the cheese and wine lunch is on the afternoon of Saturday, May 24. Mrs Baxter has asked people to bring along photographs
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Building a better life in Chernobyl
HOSPITALISED children from a town near Chernobyl now have hot running water thanks to donations from a Swindon builders' merchant. The Swindon branch of Builder Centre donated three water heaters to Westbury-based Chernobyl Children in Need charity. They
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Company steps in to beat the vandals
PUPILS at Robert Le Kyng Primary School are sitting pretty thanks to Cellular Operations. Cellular Operations mobile phone company, based in Peatmoor, has donated a special wooden bench to the school after their old benches were vandalised. Barbara Jose
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'Book would have cleared his name'
A SOLDIER'S memoirs which clear the name of Swindon Gulf War hero Vince Phillips have been blocked by the Ministry of Defence. The book would have been the third written by survivors of Bravo Two Zero an eight-man SAS mission which dropped behind Iraqi
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Centre for student nurses is voted a big hit
A SUPPORT centre for student nurses housed in the defunct Princess Margaret Hospital has re-opened at a new location. The new Swindon Education Centre, at the University of Bath's Oakfield campus, offers a wide range of resources. It will be used by around
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Fury as young swans are shot in the head
A SWAN has been killed and another injured in two separate attacks at Coate Water. The dead swan, a young cygnet of eight months was found on the shore of the lake with a pellet wound to the head. The second swan has been blinded after being shot in the
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Sing your way to stardom
Win a chance to sing your way to Universal Records with Coca-Cola. Haydon-Wick's ASDA store is hosting the regional heats of a competition to win a day out at Universal Records and become a Coca-Cola popstar. On March 22 anyone wishing to take part must
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Life around the railways is a bit wild
PHOTOGRAPHER and naturalist David Bailey gave an insight into the rich array of wildlife which can be found alongside railway lines last week. Mr Bailey, who shares his name with the legendary fashion photographer, has studied the flora and fauna along
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Please leave me in peace!
i just wanted to enquire as to whether other people get fed up with people knocking at their door in the evening trying to sell you stuff. This week I have had two people knock on my door while I've settled down to watch TV and I find it very annoying
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Give us back our buses
I AM writing about the loss of trade to Gorse Hill. It is not just the lights, it's the buses. The people of Pinehurst, Penhill and Cheney Manor can no longer do their shopping in Gorse Hill as the buses now run straight to town. Gorse Hill has a wide
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I feel so ashamed at killing
I feel so ashamed to think that we will soon be slaughtering Iraqi children, women and men. Thousands of Iraqis will die, as will our servicemen, so that we in the greedy West can gain control of Iraqi oil fields and support America in its aim for a world
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The road to hell is paved...
Daniel Lake certainly seems to have some illusions in the good intentions of the Bush and Blair governments. Let's hope he can retain them in the reality of war and its aftermath. Those of us with longer memories will recall that Blair's mission to help
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Spoon-fed a diet of pro-war rhetoric
WATCHING the impending Iraq crisis unfold I, like many, have satellite television and access to over a dozen news channels from all over the world, I am struck by the blatant right wing propaganda of such channels as Fox news. Any democrat (when allowed
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Do learn from your mistakes
IN answer to the letter from Councillor Maureen Dilley about dredging Shaftesbury Lake, there appears to be no awareness that a major mistake was made. The excuse that this operation was delayed by bad weather is pathetic as we all know that you cannot
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Skills going down the drain
It is not only householders who have difficulties finding a reliable plumber. It is also a problem for plumbing students who can't find firms ready to take them on. GILES SHELDRICK reports YOUNG would-be plumbers at Swindon College are facing an uncertain
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School hit by flu bug
A VIRAL outbreak among teachers at a Swindon secondary school has led to 400 children being sent home. Youngsters in Years 7 and 8 at the 1,098-pupil Churchfields School in Salcombe Grove, Old Walcot, have been off school for two days because 20 of their
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Stately home's famous gardens get feminine touch
BOWOOD Estate is confident its new head gardener Charlotte Hart will blossom in her new role. Mrs Hart, 28, of Derry Hill, who has worked at Bowood for two years, is one of the youngest ever in charge of the 300-year-old gardens. She takes over from Dougie
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Skateboarders may get places to go
SKATEBOARDING could be set for a new lease of life in Swindon. The town currently has no skateboard parks but councillors have responded after they were inundated with requests from youngsters wanting somewhere to go. In response Swindon Council has drawn
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Setback in fight to stop travellers
IT IS feared that Swindon Council could find it more difficult to move on travellers illegally camped on its land this summer. Until now, the council has been able to move people on swiftly using the High Court Order 113 procedure, which covered all of
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Gala night on Sunday for charity
A CHARITY gala is being held to raise money for three local charities chosen by the mayor, Stan Pajak. The good causes are Age Concern Swindon, Threshold Housing Link and the Christ Church Skyline Appeal. Cher Sawyer from Threshold Housing Link, which
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The good life is . . . enjoying spring sunshine and flowers in the park
Young Tabitha Fitzgerald was one of many youngsters to enjoy the early spring sunshine in Swindon's Old Town Gardens. Evening Advertiser photographer Stuart Harrison snapped 18-month-old Tabitha as she reached for the flowers that have opened in the warm
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Daniel is unbeaten
Swindon's junior international, Daniel Hall, 13, led by example when he was unbeaten on top board for Wiltshire's under 14 chess team in their national team championships held at Knowle, Warwickshire. Daniel scored 21/2 points out of three, and was the
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Survey on the town's ethnic mix
SWINDON has the second highest ethnic minority population in the South West, according to new figures released by Swindon Council. The latest breakdown of the 2001 census reveals that 4.8 per cent of Swindonians consider themselves non-white. Asians of
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21 jobs in Children's Scrapstore
JOB opportunities have been created at the Swindon Children's Scrapstore. The Scrapstore, in Pinehurst, has been awarded £70,000 national lottery funding to develop a project that will create 21 jobs for people with physical, mental health and learning
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Can you help us to solve these crimes?
POLICE in Swindon have released more CCTV stills and artist impressions of suspects they are trying to trace following crimes committed around the town. If you can help identify any of these people, please contact the officer named beside each picture
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Baby Molly kicks off hospital campaign
THE first baby to be born at the Great Western Hospital has helped launch a campaign to pay for new equipment. Molly Rose Saunders was born on December 4 at 4am to parents Patricia Stening, a 37-year-old sales manager, and Graham Saunders, 38, a retained
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Calling all who got called up
THE search is on throughout the Swindon area for ex-National Servicemen who served in the Royal Air Force during the days of conscription. A National Service (RAF) Association has recently been formed and it is hoped that more people will join up as members
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Let's have our library
SURELY if the Tory councillor who abstained had voted against the 15 per cent rise in council tax, the result would have been a tie and no guarantee whatsoever of the status quo. The Tories, by eliminating the factor for arts and libraries, would have
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Don't blame iraqis
I write in response to Mr Humphries (Letters, March 10) and his understandable concern at his son being sent to war; but I would like to address his criticism of perceived lack of Iraqi exiles on Allied front lines. I know many Iraqis, some of whom are
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Swindon card is such a con
I FEEL I had to write this letter because I am hopping mad. When the council decided to bring in the so-called Swindon Card it was said what a good idea it was. But having to pay £30 for a family when council tax has gone up nearly 15 per cent, there
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Fears on impact of hospitals closures
MAYOR Richard Meek has spoken of his growing concern for the future of Chippenham Hospital, after health chiefs published controversial new plans this week. Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust, which is planning a major shake-up of health services
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Swan attacks beyond belief
IT is beyond belief that some people get a kick out of killing and maiming birds and animals. Yet that has happened in Swindon all too often during the last few years. The callous, stupid individuals who killed one swan and seriously injured another in
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One man on courageous Iraq mission
MIKE Wilson, 44-year-old ex-soldier and now a civilian bomb disposal and demining expert, is a brave man. He has chosen to risk danger so that he can help to save Iraqi citizens from being blown up by Saddam Hussein's own armaments during and after the
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Junior's bristlin'
JUNIOR Lewis has already buried Bristol City once this season and he is determined to mark his Town debut by handing out a repeat dose. The Leicester City midfielder has vowed to give his all to the Town cause in the next month in the hope that it gives
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Training company is a pioneer in pilot scheme
A TRAINING firm is helping to pioneer a Government scheme subsidising employers to give workers Level 2 Vocational and Basic Skills qualifications. After getting through a rigorous Learning & Skills Council vetting programme to gain approved provider
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As Blair faces Commons revolt, Swindon's MPs Wills and Drown give him their support
MARCH 19: SWINDON'S Labour MPs threw their weight behind an embattled Tony Blair last night by backing a war in Iraq within days. Julia Drown (South Swindon) and Michael Wills (North Swindon) both backed a government motion authorising "all means necessary
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Big cat takes bite of Rover
GARAGE repairmen were gobsmacked when a woman brought her car in to have tiger teeth marks removed. The big cat bit off more than it could chew when it sank its teeth into a couple's car bumper as they drove through Longleat Safari Park. The big cat took
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College is one of just 44 to offer qualification
STUDENTS from Swindon can now sign up for the International Baccalaureate. Cirencester College has just become the first in the area to offer the qualification. The IB is an internationally recognised qualification taken instead of A-levels. Meanwhile
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School admissions to be made simpler
THE admissions policy for Swindon's schools is to be revolutionised. A new education committee called the School Admissions Forum has been set up to look at the town's ongoing problems. At the moment there are many different admission authorities in Swindon
